Valerie Temple

A Patch in the Wilderland Valerie Temple

Creatures from the prairie, the woodlands, the skies, river, cliffs and mountains seemed to echo back. It was like they were just given voice to sing by the boy who sing-talks with the animals.




A Patch in the Wilderland is told by a ten year old boy named Sam. Sam has always been the one in charge of watching Mudsy ever since he can remember. Being in the same grade, Sam resents Mudsy and is embarrassed by the the things he does. In a typical dysfunctional family, you would think Mudsy would fit right in but the family's biggest problem is Mudsy, or so they would have you think. The only thing Mudsy is guilty of is his claim that he can sing-talk with the animals. For this and his odd behavior he is bullied and made fun of by his brothers and their friends in the Scouts.




But when Mudsy searches for the rare White Foot Fox that the university is looking for, his father tells him he will let him join the Scouts if he can capture the fox and bring in the reward money. Mudsy is even allowed to go to the Boy Scout Jamboree. But when his father and all the boys from Troop #34 are asked to leave the jamboree, Mudsy is blamed. Sam and his brothers are out for revenge.




After weeks of planning, the brother's revenge has a crucial change of events. What happens next is an enchanting winter journey that can only be told in vivid detail by Sam.







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